DATE: May 10, 2018
SUBJECT: 2017 Port Moody Police Release (2017 Crime Statistics)

PORT MOODY – The Port Moody Police Department has calculated our 2017 crime statistics and wanted to ensure the community was aware of the data that reaffirms our reputation as an incredibly safe community.

Crimes against people, or violent crime as it’s sometimes referred, were down 5.92% in Port Moody from the 2016 rate. Examples of the crime types that are included in this category are generally assaults and robbery. The total number of criminal investigations on crimes against persons dropped from 159 to 151. Port Moody enjoyed a reduction in the most common offence in this crime type, as the number of reported assaults dropped by 11%, from 90 to 80.

Property crimes remained relatively flat in 2017 as compared to 2016, but did show a slight increase just over 2%. One area of interest to our citizens is always the number of thefts from automobiles. Port Moody Police responded to 224 incidents as compared to 219 incidents in 2016. The next most common property crime was mischief to property, sometimes referred to as vandalism. It saw about a 10% increase with the number of incidents, rising to 136 over last year’s number of 123.

“Port Moody continues to be an incredibly safe and engaged community,” says Port Moody Police Chief, Dave Fleugel. “I know the officers and the community work hard at keeping Port Moody one of the safest places in metro Vancouver and the province, and it shows in not only the crime statistics but also the quality of life we enjoy here as a result.”

Although the 2017 data from Statistics Canada on case clearance rates have not yet been released, the Port Moody Police enjoyed a 2016 clearance rate of almost 42% compared to 32% in the rest of the province. The term “clearance rate” represents the proportion of criminal incidents solved by the police.

“I think one area that the members and staff at the police department really focused on in 2017 was their dedication to road safety,” says Chief Fleugel. Port Moody Police report that, although they attended to about a 2% increase in the number of collisions, the department actually had a 10% increase in the number of motorists who were stopped by police for an observed violation. Chief Fleugel said, “We know people do not like to get stopped for a motor vehicle infraction, but we are asking people to slow down and obey the speed limits, and also to stop texting and driving.  Traffic-related concerns, often speeding in residential and school areas, continue to be brought to our attention, and our community will need to keep our attention focused here.”

Released by
Cst. Jason Maschke
Community Relations Officer
Port Moody Police
www.portmoodypolice.com
Email: media@portmoodypolice.com
3051 St Johns Street
Port Moody, BC V3H 2C4
Office 604-461-3456
Fax: 604-937-1311